CONTENTIOUS plans to demolish a sports hall so a care home can be built are being recommended for refusal by district council officers.

Proposals to dispose of Loughton Sports Hall, in Rectory Lane, have been in the pipeline for many months, and Epping Forest District Council sparked controversy in September this year when it voted to remove a covenant on the building allowing Epping Forest College to sell it to ease its debt.

Despite that agreement, council officers have now said a plan by Oakland Healthcare to build an 85-bed care home there should be refused as: “The proposal would result in the loss of a local sports facility.”

The proposal had already been objected to by Loughton Town Council who have asked for a £500,000 contribution to healthcare and sports amenities if it is granted.

Loughton town and district councillor Stephen Murray said the refusal recommendation was “very good news”.

He added: “That sports hall was part-built by public subscription in the late 50s or early 60s and what they're planning to do to it is unacceptable. I would've thought a college the size of them would want to keep that sports hall and spend some money on it.”

The care home plan has also received objections from Sport England and the Loughton Residents Association who are concerned at the lack of parking provision on the site.

Residents' vice-chairman David Linnell said: “The local NHS has said there's no demand for extra care homes in the area, and obviously there's great concern about the loss of a sports facility. If that goes it leaves the college with no sports hall.

“The building they've suggested is fairly massive. It's 85 extra people and only 27 car parking spaces. They suggest that most of the occupants will be local and visited by local people, but the evidence is that people in care homes in Loughton generally comes from families in London.”

Oakland Healthcare said chief executive Sav Atkar was currently unavailable for comment.